Q: Can a collision in the front of my car cause a mass air flow sensor to malfunction? I need to make a claim for the insurance.

asked by on November 23, 2016

Can a collision in the from of my car cause a mass air flow sensor to malfunction? I was in a accident and the check engine light came on after the accident. I took it to auto zone and the said a mass airflow sensor was the code

My car has 148893 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Mass Airflow Sensor Replacement $188.36 - $786.53 Get a Quote

Unless the sensor has been physically damaged by the accident you were in, it would be impossible to know if it was damaged by the accident or not. The MAF sensor is a common sensor to fail on these vehicles and can get contaminated with debris and oils from aftermarket oil type air filters or not changing the paper air filter often enough and these contaminants will foul the MAF sensor and cause it to fail. If you feel the sensor only failed immediately after the accident then try and get the insurance to cover it. You may have a hard time getting it covered by them. If you need a mechanic like one from YourMechanic to test and replace mass air sensor then set up an appointment and quote.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

How much gas can the tank hold?
Whether you’re planning a trip or trying to manually calculate your fuel mileage, knowing how much gas the tank holds is important. The gas tank on your Honda can hold 18.5 gallons of gas. However, make sure not to “top...
Possible to drive without front differential?
If the vehicle has manually selectable 4WD, then you can get away with this, but it's obviously not ideal. If the vehicle is not selectable and is instead a full time AWD (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-all-wheel-drive-works), then you cannot do this, as the...
My car ran out of gas and now it won't start - 2001 Infiniti QX4
When you ran the fuel pump dry of fuel, the fuel pump may have seized up. Fuel pumps use the fuel in the tank to keep it cool so it does not overheat and also lubricates the internal parts as...
Cylinder 5 has a misfire.
Hi there. To determine if the injector is not working properly, either you can perform a cylinder cut out test on your injection system or you can swap your injector on cylinder number 5 with another cylinder and see if...
im getting a loud squeal from the brakes. However the brake pads and rotors are absolutely fine and relatively new.
This circumstance is not unusual and can be caused by the use of non-OEM rotors and brake pads and also the failure to re-apply factory specified shims and/or appropriate anti-squeal compounds and lubricants. Unfortunately, if and once non-OEM parts and...
oil pressure light comes on when l stop at a light or when it idles then l push the gas peddle and it goes off.
When the oil pressure light comes on, the engine oil is loosing oil pressure. I recommend performing an oil change and filter change with a good brand filter. If the light is still coming on, then hook up a mechanical...
I think I have a power steering leak
You will need to use a spray engine cleaner to remove all the oil from the engine where it is leaking and then look at the area while someone starts engine and turns the wheel to see if you can...
Battery light came on, overheated, coolant sprayed everywhere
The noise you were hearing may have been the serpentine belt breaking. Once the belt broke completely both the water pump and alternator stopped turning, thus accounting for both the overheating and the charging light coming on. It's possible you...
loww coolant, resevoir empty, need to know how to add more
If the white smoke is coming from the exhaust tailpipe, you may have a coolant leak into the exhaust system via a leaking head gasket. If the smoke is in the passenger compartment, that could be due to a leaking...

Related articles

What Sensors Do All Cars Have? And What Optional Ones Are There?
Modern cars have an increasing amount of sensors. Most cars have an oxygen sensor and a throttle position sensor, but parking sensors are optional.
A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Ford Fiesta
This This subcompact vehicle is available as a 4-door sedan as well as a 5-door hatchback. The prices for the vehicle are very low, even for the models that are decked out with all of the optional features. Those who...
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Low Water Sensor
If your car has low coolant without a warning, the Coolant Light comes on for no reason, or the car is overheating, replace the low water sensor.